Cash registeimndicating system



Feb. 24, 1953 M. STERN ET AL CASH REGISTER INDICATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20 MAX srfe/v I POB'PT'ALEXNDER,

INI/ENTORS HUEBNE/P, BEEHLER, WORREL,

HERZ/G 8 CALDWELL,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1953 M. STERN ET A1.

CASE REGISTER INDICATING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2O Nw @fb wm, um. Mum E E Mm X5 o @Si www# mmm# EQ# Nw a Lew wwwL N .A L C 2A. ma mm\ m5 m.w\ Nwx am E www x5 mw E A5 NE W .n .u M0 BH v 5 R y QM hw H 5 ww l m E: um, m Nm n wm Ew muvl, n mv Nm f \m% wull ww. Q EE 5W @l Y im C v? H ,wm E E NX EY EN# n N NlE m L %W@\ Q N www@ QS 9% Patented Feb. 24, 1953 Californi Ap'plicationMay-lfz; 1949;,Serial'No.94,3222 4. claims.- (C1. 340-274) Our' invention, relates to;,an: electricallicOnII-TOI circuit and has particular referenceitowalliv elec;- trical relay/.circuit usedin lcombination with a;,y standard cash register adapted; to.; indicate` the;E

particular .bini in: the.v marley; drawer: intod which@ 5 the lastbill hasbeen placed.

In most r commercial.; establishments, suchw asia chain storesor large departmentstores',l where; relatively large numbers of:customers-1arerhanf-I dled and, consequently, large-quantities,enlarge lu:

amounts of cash arereceiveddu-ringithe coursevof business, the problem of changing moneytor yre-1V ceiving payment Vin large sv denominationvcurrency: is serious inthat unless'fsome,methodzof. identite;

cation isladapted'to indicate the .size ecurrencyssls,

or bill denomination handed thefcashielllargue, ments frequently arise.v

When a bill is received by a cashier,ifiitfisziputt in one of thee-bins in the..cash=,registerdrawer and then changemade,` the lcustomertmayi claim 20;?.

that he has tenderedallargersbillrthan was actu-1 ally received. Such,argumentsvarerharmful tel good. will. In .ordertto .avoid-suchearguments; it has become the custom of most cashiers ftorplacei` thebill on topof thefcashwregister untilf change has been madeandfthen-placeffit irnthe#cashV drawer with `an attendantlossoff.timeink such duplication of movements-- It hasalso been-found that quite-vfrequentlyV` unscrupulous persons will.: tender smallnlbillsf ysuch 30@ as a one. dollar bill, receive their-changefl andA then `claim that they had telnderedrattenvdella@ bill. Unless some method` of-identication hasn been used, it is, frequently--vthe-result-thatthea.

store will pay the customer ratherrtha-nv-delay all;` 5:@`

subsequent customers While Vcaslfr-is2-counted/and checked against-the cash registertape.

One of theobjectsof our-invention-istoprovidef and indicating meanscontrolled by-` an electrical circuit that automatically and:instantaneously-40'1- indicates which bin received the lastbill,I

Most cash register sdrawersareiiormed'withvav\ spring loaded currency-retainingbracketin/eachbin, which must be lifted out of-jplaceffinforder to place money inthe-respective-birlfI 453 It is also among theobjectsof our;invention@A to provide an electr-icalcireuitwhich-instantaneously and automaticallyindicateswhich cur--4 rency retainer wasvlastmaised, therebyfclearly* indicating into whichA binA the-billf-was placed:w 50* With such an-indicatorrif` the indicator reads, e fro example, onefdollar, it-isthereOre'CIearthatjij the currency retainerufof 'the onel dollar bingwas-` the last Yretainer' liftedu and that yinvthe event -of 'j an argument, onlyY the onedoll ar b'irr negdgb55" checked. If the topr'bllis forlone'doliar, therel has been no error.-

In the event that a customengivesethe cashier; for'example, a ten dollar bill, and the tendllay bill is placed "in the properv'bin; andthe cashier 2 makes change for-only alone dollar-bill, the indicator'will instantlytell AIboththe customer and ,the cashieithatga vten dollar bill was placed in the nfiachine,y and,y that the,` proper change should,r

therefore; bei made;r

It-Wllthusfbefseen thata further object. of ourflinvention iste` provide ameans for accu,- ratelyzdetermining what size bill and where said bi11; was=place d,in each cash registerdrawerV to avoid or eliminate confusion-or*Y mistake.;

Other; andl furtherV objects and. advantages; of our invehtion;:,wil l become apparenty from` the drawingsy vand-the specificationsV relative thereto;V

Irrethe drawner Figure 1;.,isv a perspective view of:4 ai standard cash register shown inmcombination VWithfa frail,-Y mpenta-ry viewyof our indicator.

Figure 2, is aagpartial sectional i elevation; of the indicafaor.;`

Fie 3 is. artoprplangview. of 'a standardrcash registe drawer;l showing \theswitc hing elements` toibeiusedfin conneetiontwth our invention Figure 4 is a sectional -view takenomline If-.JI4

0f zl'isure.f.-3z

Figure illustrates :a 1 modied rform of switch; Figureg-V 61,., is` al schematic electrical Wiringv dia-- glm,

I n Figure-hws have illustrated a standard cash f register, designated generally I 0, having a` drawer IIx, and an indicator,` designatedy generally I2.`

The ,detals of `'notlrthe:drawer II-and the indi.- cator I2,wil1be explainedmorejully. in eonnec: tion 4with `,otherfneures ofthe,draw/mss.v

Indicator Asillustrated-im-Figure 2,A which' shows one`A of-theepreferred-forms, the indicator com-prisesy alhousing Mf-lhfav'i-nga front I5, thefront I5 being-formed with Vay transparent-Window I6: A plurality of partitions I I are disposed transverseli nthe heusingto divide-the transparent vwindow I611intoseg-ments.v Each-of, the segments carries Somer-indicatingY label, such-as one, live, ten and twenty.vr An indicating means, such as an incandescent lamp I 8 *f supported ina socket` I 9; ,is

positioned immediately, behind j the transparent windowv I6` in; eachjyof the segments defined byV thefpartitionsI'Il` Thehousingv also includes a` base 20L' having means-for'rfretaining. the housing. on. thetopI` of the cash register, such as suction cups 2 I.

Cash" drawer.A

The, cash,drawer`v I I islzadapted-to slidablyfit into the cash register I0 and is urgedoutwa-rdly therefrom by a pair of compression springs 25. When the tabulatingI keyslof'the cash register are operated,` the cash 4drawer is Yreleased andthe springs f2 5` urge the,v drawer outwardly The'fcash drawer is formed With'a plurality of 3 partitions 26, 21, 28 and 29, dividing the drawer into currency-receiving bins A, B, C and D adapted to contain various denominations of currency.

Each of the partitions, such as 29 in Figure 4, is formed with a metal bushing r3| adapted to serve as a pivot point for the currency retainer.

The currency retainer is a substantially W- ,shaped bracket 33 having outwardly depending legs which are received by the bushings 3|. A

tension spring 34 is secured to the back of the 'cash register drawer by means of a screw eye 35, 'and to the currency retainer by means of a hook 36, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4.

In view of the fact that the screw eye 35 is at a point below the pivot point or bushing 3 it is clear that as soon as the currency-retaining bracket is rotated downwardly to a point slightly below horizontal, the spring 34 will urge rotation of the bracket in a clockwise direction, and that when the currency-retaining bracket 33 has been lifted to a point above the center line between the screw eye and the pivot point of the bushing 3|, the retaining bracket will be urged in a. counter-clockwise direction.

An electrical bus or connection 33 is electrically connected to the bushing in the partition 26. In view of the fact that the currency-retaining bracket 33 and the bushings 3| are usually formed of metal, the bus 38 is electrically connected to all of the currency-retaining brackets, A switch member 40 is secured to the top of the drawer and has a contact segment 4| adapted to contact a portion of the currency-retaining bracket when the bracket is raised as is indicated in phantom in Figure 4. Therefore, upon raising the bracket 33 an electrical circuit is completed between the bus 38 and the switch 40.

A modified form of switch is illustrated in Fig ure wherein both electrical contacts are independent of the material from which the bushings 3| have been made or the electrical conductivity or continuity between all of the brackets. ln the modification illustrated in Figure 5, the bus 38 has been replaced by a switch contact 43. A switch contact 44 having an operating depending cam member 45 is positioned on the cash register drawer adjacent each bin, so that raising the respective retaining member 33 will contact the segment 45 urging the switching contact 44 upwardly into electrical contact with the switching contact 43. The switching contacts 43 and 44 are secured to the cash register drawer I9 by means of screws 41 and are electrically separated by means of insulating blocks 48.

A multiple conductor cable 31 is electrically connected to the bus 38 and each of the switches 49 and extends through the housing of the cash register I0. Sufficient cable is provided to permit reaching the drawer while in its extended position. Tension springs 39 and 42 are connected to the cable by clips 46 and 49 so that when the drawer is pushed into the cash register l0, the cable 31 will fold into an S-shape so that it will not become wedged under the drawer IIJ or otherwise be damaged or cause damage to the cash register.

In either event, it is clear that upon raising the retaining member 33, an electrical contact is made which can be used for operating an indicating device.

Electrical circuit The indicator means, designated 8 in Figure 2. are designated ISA-IBD, inclusive, and are 4 intended to designate the light corresponding to the bins AD, inclusive, in Figure 3. The switching elements, such as the bus 38 and the member 40 in Figures 3 and 4, or the switching elements 43 and 44 of Figure 5, are represented by the schematic switches SUA-50D, inclusive.

The wiring circuit comprises a source of low voltage potential, such as the transformer T having a primary coil T1 and a secondary coil T2. It is to be understood that the primary coil T1 is connected with the standard domestic source of electrical current, such as volts, butJ that the system is designed to operate on 6 or l2 volts to avoid any possibility of shocking the operator by touching the currency-retaining bracket 33.

The diagram illustrates an indicator for a fourbin cash register drawer, that is, a cash register drawer adapted to receive one, five, ten and twenty dollar bills. It will, of course, be apparent from a further detailed description of the control circuit that any number of bins can be used by a proper modification of the control circuit. Such modiiication will readily be apparent to those Skilled in the art.

An electrical relay, such as 5|, 52, 53 and 54, is provided for each indicator light and each cash bin in the cash register drawer. Each of the relays comprises an electric magnet, designated M, and four contact points, designated A, B, C and D. It will be understood that a reference to contact points, such as 5|B or 52B, refers to the respective contact points of the respective relay numbered 5| 'or 52.

The contact points A of each respective relay areconnected in series by means oi conductors 55, 56 and 51, and are connected in series with the transformer secondary coil T2 by means of conductor 58, light globe |8A, conductor 59 and conductor 60.

Contact points 5|A, 52B, 53C and 5D4 are normally open, whereas, all other contacts in each individual relay are normally closed.

Coil 5|M is connected to the transformer secondary coil T2 by means of the circuit conductors 6| and 62, switch 50A, conductors 63, 64 and 65. It will, therefore, readily be seen that upon closing the contact 50A, the coil M is energized and the relay activated to close the contact points A and to open the contact points B, C and Din the relay 5|.

Upon closing the contact point 5|A, a circuit is completed from the transformer secondary 'I'2 through conductor 59, light globe IBA, conductor 58, contact point 5|A, conductors 55, 56, 51 and 60 through the respective contact points 52A, 53A and 54A.

A circuit is also created through the conductor 65, magnetic coil 5|M, conductor 6|, Contact points 5|A, conductors 55, 56, 51 and 60 through the contact points 52A, 53A and 54A, so that once the solenoid 5| is energized to energize the light |8A, a holding circuit is created which maintains the circuit and keeps the light |8A on until one of the contact points 52A, 53A and 54A is broken by the action of one of the other relays.

Upon closing the switch 50B by raising the currency retainer in bin B, a circuit is created through the conductor 64, switch 50B. conductors 61 and 68, magnetic coil 52M and conductor 65 back to the conductor 65, thereby energizing the coil 50M and closing the contact at the point 52B and breaking the contacts 52A, 52C and 52D. By breaking the contact 52A, the light |8A and the magnetic coil 5|M are both de-energized.

Upon closing the contact 52B. a circuit is created through conductorl 6.9. lightuglcbe* 135:1

conductor ,y contactw point 52B, .conductorsnllr l2, 13, 'I4 and 60;, through; contact pointsi 5;lfB, 53B and 54B..

Upon closing the fcontact. point: 52B.v .anholdlni circuit is also created.throughfconductor165i,mage.: neticv coil 52M, conductor 68, vrccrita,ctgpoints,,5213;v

conductorsl 1|, l2;Y 13, 1-4' and" 6.0,.. through the;T

switch contacts 5 I 13,; 53By ,5,413.-V

The magnetic coils `53M and 5,4M1a1e similarly.,v energized byv means off switch contrae-ts'511 and;

58D, respectively, by'means of conductors Ilya-11d;

i8, and 13 and 80.-, sothat.closinggeithen the switch 50C or 50D will energize therespe,c tiye-v magnetic coil and close.-the-v respectivefqgntactr 53C or 54D, and open the contacts 53A, 53B and 53D, or 54A, 54C and'j54B.

Similarly, upon closingjejther of the respective contact points, series circuits as follows are created: Upon closing, contact.5.3.C, a circuit to conductor 82, light globe IBC, conductor 83, s vitch contact 53C, conductors, 85, 86.iand B1 through the respective contacts 54C,l 52C and i'SIC, is established.

Simultaneously, respective holding circuits are created from the main lead B5-through magnetic coil 53M, conductor '18, contactvpoint 5.3,C,c,0n ductors 84, B5, 86 and 81,.throughgcontactapoints 54C, 52C andBIC.

The light globe 18D is controlled by the solenoid 54, and upon closing the contact point 50D, a circuit is created through conductors 64 and 19, contact point 54D, conductor 88, light globe IBD and conductor 89. The holding circuit to maintain the indicator light I8D energized comprises conductor 65, magnetic coil 54M, conductor 80, contact point 54D, conductors 90, 9|, 92 and 93 and contact points 53D, 52D and 51D.

It is, therefore, clear that upon closing any of the respective contact points 50A, 50B, 50C or 50D, the respective or corresponding light globe [8A-[8D will be energized and all other holding circuits and light globes will be extinguished. The respective light globe will remain energized until one of the other contact points has become closed.

It becomes apparent that raising one of the currency retainers 33 to place a particular denomination bill in one of the bins A, B, C, or D will energize the proper indicator light, which said light will remain energized until one of the currency retainers 33 in one of the other bins has been lifted.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the control and indicator circuit we have illustrated in Figure 6 is not conned to one having four indicator lights and four respective relay circuits. Any number of indicator lights can be used if the solenoid or control relay is modified accordingly. In the event that other or more lights or indicator means are used, an additional contact point must be added to each of the relays, which said contact point will be normally closed and will be placed in series with each of the other contact points controlling the respective indicator light.

What we consider the essence of our invention is an indicator circuit adapted to be used in connection with cash registers having a plurality of indicator lights, a control relay for each of said lights, means in series with each of said control relays for energizing the magnetic coil contained therein, a normally open contact point in each of said relays adapted to energize the respective indicator light and to create a holding circuit througnth'e .magnetic coil, andga. contact` pointrin each of the other respective. relaysv in series'with` said holding coil and said: indicator light.

While we have Aherein shown and described .our

invention: in whatwe havev conceived to. be, the.. most practical and preferredl embodiment, it is,-

recognized that departures may. bemadefthere.-

from withinpthe scope` of-v our invention. which is not to Vbeflimitedtothe details disclosed herein,v

butis to be.. accorded the full scope ofthe. claims.v so as to embrace any and allv equivalent devices..

Having ,describedou-r invention, what we claim asn-ew` and desire. to Asecurexby, Letters Patent is.: 1'.' .In combination,l a cash, registerv havingV a cash' drawer, said drawer being.. divided into a pluralityof currency-receiving bins and having a; currency-retaining bracket. disposed inv eachv of'said bins, electrical switching.- means associated` witheach of said retaining.' brackets. adapted: to. bey closedv upon the lifting of said;

bracket, an:l electrically.V responsive indicator meansin 'circuitwith such switching means for indicating lifting of. each currency retainer.

bracket, a plurality ofV electromagnets having. the electric circuit thereof in series withtheK switch,-

ing means, each of which isY adapted to` be ener. gized'respectively uponfthel closing ofone of the.

switching means associated., with i each currencyreceiving bin, each of said electrcmagnets being associated with at least one magnetically responsive normally open switch and a plurality of magnetically responsive normally closed switches, each 0f said normally open switches being adapted upon being closed to energize one of said indicator means and to create a holding circuit for said electromagnet in series with one of the normally closed switching means associated with each of said electromagnets.

2. In combination, a cash register having a cash drawer. said drawer being divided into a plurality of currency-receiving bins and having an electrically conductive currency-retaining bracket disposed in each of said bins and being electrically connected to a, source of power, electrical contacting means disposed adjacent each of said retaining brackets adapted to contact said bracket upon the lifting of said bracket to complete an electrical circuit therethrough, a plurality of electrically responsive indicator means, one of which is adapted to be energized upon lifting of each currency retainer bracket, a plurality of electromagnets, one of which is adapted to be energized upon lifting of each of said retaining brackets, each of said electromagnets being associated with at least one electrically responsive normally open switch and a plurality of electrically responsive normally closed switches, each of said normally open switches being adapted upon being closed to energize each of said indicator means and to create a holding circuit for said electromagnet, in series with one of the normally closed switching means associated with each of said electromagnets.

3. A cash register currency indicator comprising a cash register having a series of currency receiving bins and a currency retainer bracket in each bin, an electric circuit for each bin, an electric retainer switch for each bracket adapted to be closed by lifting the bracket and a solenoid in the electric circuit in series with the retainer switch, a series of relay switches under the control of each solenoid wherein at least one relay switch is normally open and the remaining relay switches are normally closed, a

solenoid holding circuit for each solenoid having said solenoid, said normally open relay switch and an electrically actuated indicator in series therein, each normally open relay switch being in a series circuit with a normally closed relay switch in each of the other series, each of the retainer switches upon closure thereof being adapted to actuate the respective solenoid and cause initiation of operation of the respective indicator and holding circuit and simultaneously cause cessation of operation of all the other indicators and holding circuits.

4. A cash register currency indicator comprising a cash register having a cash drawer divided into a plurality of currency receiving bins, a spring-pressed currency retainer located in each bin and electric retainer switches on the drawer associated one with each bracket adapted to be closed by lifting the bracket when the drawer is open, a bank of relay contact switches for each bin having one open contact switch and a plurality of closed contact switches numbering one less than the number of bins, a source of electric energy, a solenoid circuit connected to the source of energy and solenoid in the circuit in series with the source of electric energy and the respective retainer switch, a holding circuit connected to the source of electric energy. Said solenoid being in series in said holding circuit and with the normally open contact switch of the respective bank of relay contact switches, an electrically actuated visible indicator corresponding to each bin in series with each normally open contact switch and with one of the normally closed contact switches of each of the other banks of relay contact switches, each of said retainer switches upon closure thereof by the retainer bracket while the drawer is in open position being adapted to energize the respective solenoid, and energization of said respective solenoid being adapted to energize the holding circuit therefor and the respective indicators and to simultaneously deenergize any other energized solenoids and indicators.

MAX STERN. ROBERT A. ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,765,538 Nelson June 24, 1930 1,903,535 Scott Apr. 11, 1933 2,388,733 Fischler et al Nov. 13, 1945 2,490,807 Hodel et al Dec. 13, 1949 

